New species of soul-sucking wasp named after DEMENTORS from Harry Potter

A NEW species of wasp has been named after a ghoulish character from Harry Potter which feeds on human souls and happiness.

The wasp attacks its victims in the same way as the characters from Harry Potter[PH]

The Ampulex dementor was discovered in Thailand in 2008 and has taken the name because of its ability to paralyse its prey's neural functions before eating them - similar to the dementors' ability to 'suck' the soul of its victims.

The wasps sting cockroaches and release a deadly toxin into their system - neutralising their brain and making them easy pickings.

The method is very similar to that used by their namesake in JK Rowling's books.

In the novels the dementors leave their victims in a vegetative state by sucking their soul from their body.

But the dementor attack can be stopped by using the Patronus spell (summoned by shouting 'expecto patronum') to chase them away - unlike with the wasps.

The new name was chosen after visitors to Berlin's Natural History Museum were asked to vote on a list of names.

Other more pedestrian options included A. mon, A. bicolor and A. plagiator.

The description for the A. dementor name at the museum read: "The species name refers to the dementors, which are fictional characters appearing in Harry Potter books.

"Dementors are magical beings, which can consume a person’s soul, leaving their victims as an empty but functional body without personality or emotions.